Clamp assembly



Jan. 21, 1964 w. E. BIXBY 3,118,204

CLAMP ASSEMBLY I Filed Nov. 1, 1961 INVENTOR. WflLLflCE E. BIXBY United States Patent 3,118,204 CLAMP ASSEMBLY Wallace E. Bixby, Wellington, Ohio, assignor to Wedge Wire Corporation, a corporation of Ohio Filed Nov. 1, 1961, Ser. No. 149,339 4 Claims. (CI. 24-73) This invention relates to a clamp assembly and more particularly to a supporting mechanism for snubbing vibration in an elongate screen panel of the type formed with parallel wire elements looped about transverse support rods. However, the invention is not necessarily so limited.

In washing or screening ore materials, it has become the practice in the industry to pass the ore material over screens or grids which will permit water and small particles up to a predetermined maximum size to pass therethrough. One type of screen used for such applications comprises a plurality of elongate metallic wire elements which are looped about successive support rods. These Wire elements are spaced a predetermined distance one from the other so as to provide openings in the screen through which water and small ore particles may pass. A screen of this general type is disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,690,265 issued to Wallace E. Bixby on September 28, 1954.

In order to efiiciently utilize screens of this type, it is found desirable to vibrate the screen as the ore material passes over the screen. When the screen is vibrated, however, the elements which form the screen have a tendency to resonate with the impressed oscillations and premature failure of the screen is encountered. This probl m can be circumvented by limiting the size of the screen panel. However, it has proven more satisfactory in the industry to anchor the screen panel at selected locations so as to prevent resonant vibration thereof. This is done by employing a clamp known as a hold down clamp which can be used to anchor the screen panel to the vibratory frame wherever desired.

In the past, it had become the practice to attach the hold down clamps to the screen panel by passing a bolt or other suitable fastener element through the screen panel, the hold down clamp being mounted beneath the screen panel but the fastener element penetrating through the screen panel to the upper surface thereof. The presence of such fastener elements in the upper surface of the screen panel is objectionable for two principal reasons. One is that the fasteners cover a part of the screen area and therefore interfere with optimum utilization of the screen surface. The other is that passage of the fastener element through the screen necessitates a hole in the screen which produces a localized weakening of the screen.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved clamp assembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved hold down clamp for anchoring screen panels of the type described to a vibratory frame.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and lmproved fastener for engaging a screen panel of the type described.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof, the method of manufacture and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through the supporting mechanism for a vibratory screen so as to illustrate the hold down clamp of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

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FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially along line 33 of FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawing in greater detail, the reference numeral ill in FIGURE 1 designates a screen panel which is formed with a plurality of parallel wire elements 12, looped about successive support rods 14. Only one of the support rods 1.4, which are several in number, appears in the drawing. The wire elements 12 are generally circular in cross-section at the looped portions 15 thereof, and may have a triangular cross-section, as illustrated, in the portions thereof which span the support rods.

The wire elements 12 are secured in fixed position on the support rods 14 by means of nuts or collars 16 secured to the ends of the support rods. To mount the screen panel on a suitable vibratory apparatus, the ends of the support rods 14 are seated in a rubber cushoin 17 which is confined in a U-shaped channel 18. The U-shaped channel member and the resilient cushion extend throughout the length of the screen panel and engage each of the several support rods in the screen. It is to be understood that one cushion 1'7 and associated channel member 18 are provided along each side of the screen panel.

The channel members 18 along both sides of the screen panel are attached to side plates 20 associated with the vibratory apparatus by means of angle bar elements 22 and 24 which cooperate to form a channel or groove for receiving the channel members 18. Only one of these side plates 26 is illustrated in the drawing.

Passing under the screen panel, when mounted on the vibratory apparatus as described, are one or more rider strips such as illustrated at 26, these rider strips extending throughout the length of the screen panel. The rider strips 26 are supported by the vibratory apparatus and vibrate in unison with the side plates 29. The arrange-- ment of side plates and rider strips and the mounting of the screen panel to the side plates is conventional in the art and forms no part of the present invention. Rather, the present invention resides in the new and improved means by which the screen panel may be anchored to a rider strip 26 so as to restrict resonant vibration of the screen panel.

Attachment of the screen panel to a rider strip is effected by means of a clamp assembly gen rally designated by the reference number 23. This clamp assembly includes a pair of matched block clamps 3d and 32. which are fastened together by means of bolts 38. The block clamps 3t and 32 are provided with jaw portions 34 and 36, respectively, each of which is tmdercut whereby the jaw portions cooperate toform a channel 31 therebetween for receiving the looped portions 15 which sur round any given support rod 14. Thus, when the two block clamps 30 and 32 are joined by the bolts 38, the jaw portions thereof cooperate to engage any one of the support rods 14 under the screen panel. In assembly, the bolts 38 are securely tightened so as to draw the block clamps in-to face to face contact, this contact between the block clamp-s limiting the pressure which the jaw portions can apply to the looped portions 15 surrounding the support rod 14.

Each of the block clamps 39 and 32 has a groove 4% therein which is of substantially semi-circular cross-section and which is threaded. When the two clamping blocks are secured together by the bolts 38, the grooves 40 in the clamping members cooperate to provide a threaded bore for receipt of a threaded stud 42. This threaded bore extends substantially perpendicular to the channel 31 formed by the jaw portions 34 and 36. Accordingly, when any support rod of the screen panel is seated in the channel which is formed by the jaw portions 34- and 36, the stud 42 may be advanced into the threaded bore formed by the grooves lii to firm y press the loops l5 surrounding the support rod l4 agains the jaw portions 34 and This fixes the position of the clamping assembly along the length of the support rod 1 5.

For attaching the clamping assembly to any one of the rider strips under the screen panel, a saddle element 1 4- is employed. This element has at one end thereof a generally U-shap-ed channel portion 43 adapted to engage the lower edge of the rider strip 26. The saddle 44 is joined to the clamping assembly by passing the stud 42 through a suitable aperture in the saddle and advmrcing a loci; nut 46 onto the lower end of t ,e stud The lock nut 46 is advanced upwardly sufiiciently far to remove any play between the saddle id and the clamping assembly 2:13.

To assist in snubbing resonance in the screen pmel 19, an elastorneric cushion 4 is mounted on top of the rider strip 26 under the support rod 14 which is engaged by the clamping assembly 223. In advancing the lock nut 4-3 updly on the stud 22, the screen panel is drawn dou awardly to cause th support rod which is engaged by the clam g assembly 22; to press firmly against the cushion 48. As a 'esuit or this construction, the screen panel it} is compelled to vibrate in unison with the rider strip 25.

From the fore-going description, it will be apparent that the clamp assembly of the present invention offers the advantage that it can be attached to the screen panel at any one of the supporting rods therein and at any point along the length of the support rod without damage to or permanent distortion of the screen panel. Thus, the clamp assembly may be removed or placed in new positions as desired throughout the operating life of the screen.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in th appended claims.

Having thus described my inventioml claim:

1. in a clamp mechanism for holding down a wire screen panel of the type having a plurality of parallel w re elements looped about successive support rods, 2. pair of matched clwnp members each having a jaw portion therein, disconnectable means joining said clamp embers in opposing relation whereby said jaw portions cooperate to form a channel to receive and retain the looped portions of said wire elements which encircle any one of said support rods, each clamp member having a threaded groove therein, said threaded grooves cooperatiig upon joinder of said clamp membersto provide a threaded bore passing between said clamp members and communicating with said channel, said threaded bore being adapted to receive a threaded stud for locking said clam-p members against sliding movement on said looped portions when the latter are seated in said channel.

2. A clamp mechanism comprising, in combination, a

pair of matched bloc members, each of said block members having a jaw portion at one end thereof and a contrally located threaded groove in one face thereof, said groove extending from the jaw portion at one end of said block across said one face to the opposite end of said block, means to detachably join said blocks in face to face relation whereby said jaw portions oppose one another and said grooves cooperate to form a threaded bore between said block members, each jaw portion having an undercut portion in the surface thereof which opposes the other jaw portion enabling said jaw portions to grip a member inserted therebetween, and a threaded stud disposed in said threaded bore, said stud being adapted for advancement into said bore to press against the member gripped by said jaw portions.

3. A clamp mechanism comprising in combination a pair of members each having a jaw portion at one end thereof and a centrally located threaded groove in one face thereof, said groove extending from the jaw portion at one end of each said member across said one face to the opposite end of such member, means joining said members in face-to-r'ace relation whereby said jaw portions oppose one another and said grooves cooperate to form a threaded bore extending between said members, said jaw portions being adapted to grip an element inserted therebetween, and a threaded stud disposed in said threaded bore, said stud being adapted for advancement into said bore to press against the element gripped by said jaw portions.

4. in a vibratory screen apparatus of the type having a screen panel formed with a plurality of parallel wire elements looped about successive support rods, a clamping mechanism for attaching the screen panel to a support passing thereunder, said clamping mechanism comprising clamp means including a pair of matched clamp members each having a jaw portion therein, and disconnectable means joining said clamp members in opposing relation whereby said jaw portions cooperate to form a channel to receive and retain any one of said support rods, each clamp member having a threaded groove therein, said threaded grooves cooperating upon joinder of said clamp members to provide a threaded bore passing between said clamp members and communicating with said channel, a saddle member adapted to engage said support, a threaded stud seated in said threaded bore and tightened against said support rod to secure the clamp members against sliding movement on said support rod, said saddle memher having an aperture therein receiving said threaded stud, and a nut engaging said threaded stud, said nut being ada ted to draw said saddle member toward said clamp means so as to anchor said screen panel to said support.

References jited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN A CLAMP MECHANISM FOR HOLDING DOWN A WIRE SCREEN PANEL OF THE TYPE HAVING A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL WIRE ELEMENTS LOOPED ABOUT SUCCESSIVE SUPPORT RODS, A PAIR OF MATCHED CLAMP MEMBERS EACH HAVING A JAW PORTION THEREIN, DISCONNECTABLE MEANS JOINING SAID CLAMP MEMBERS IN OPPOSING RELATION WHEREBY SAID JAW PORTIONS COOPERATE TO FORM A CHANNEL TO RECEIVE AND RETAIN THE LOOPED PORTIONS OF SAID WIRE ELEMENTS WHICH ENCIRCLE ANY ONE OF SAID SUPPORT RODS, EACH CLAMP MEMBER HAVING A THREADED GROOVE THEREIN, SAID THREADED GROOVES COOPERATING UPON JOINDER OF SAID CLAMP MEMBERS TO PROVIDE A THREADED BORE PASSING BETWEEN SAID CLAMP MEMBERS AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CHANNEL, SAID THREADED BORE BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A THREADED STUD FOR LOCKING SAID CLAMP MEMBERS AGAINST SLIDING MOVEMENT ON SAID LOOPED PORTIONS WHEN THE LATTER ARE SEATED IN SAID CHANNEL. 